Bait recommendations for Florida

[Traumabrew]

I am new to bass fishing. I live in Florida and have been told there are bass in these here waters. I want to try and catch some of them.

 

I am over whelmed at the choice of baits and styles of fishing them. I know different baits and fishing techniques vary based on multiple factors such as time of year and time of day, temperature of the water, water color and clarity, etc. but I am looking for some general tips and recommendations for some basic go to baits and fishing techniques that work well for Florida waters. I know that a lot of the water here is warm and cloudy and often times tannin colored.

 

I don't own a boat or kayak yet, so I will be bank fishing lakes and ponds in my area, which is the Bradenton/Sarasota area of Florida on the west coast.

 

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated and will help ease the feeling of being overwhelmed by choices.

[roadwarrior]

 

[crypt]

any fluke style bait will get you started.texas rigged worms, whatever brand you like.topwater plugs are great.traps,frogs,minnow plugs. keep it simple. don't need much to catch em. let me know if you need any more help. that's why we're hear. welcome to the forum, by the way.....

[Wurming67]

Texas rigged bait here in Florida specifically uvibe speed worm June bug or watermelon ,buzz it across the top ,swim it,pop it off the bottom,flip it, (1/8 ounce tungsten weight pegged)very popular worm here in Florida.

[thinkingredneck]

16 hours ago, Wurming67 said:

Texas rigged bait here in Florida specifically uvibe speed worm June bug or watermelon ,buzz it across the top ,swim it,pop it off the bottom,flip it, (1/8 ounce tungsten weight pegged)very popular worm here in Florida.

This, plus Texas rigged trickworms, bullet weight, or weightless.  Offset hook, braid.  Best place on earth to fish, IMHO.

[jr231]

@soflabasser @N Florida Mike @RoLo

 

I don't know these guys personally but always are helpful and I know they fish Florida. 

[N Florida Mike]

I haven't fished the Bradenton area before, but soft plastics work great anywhere else I've fished in Fl.

Senkos haven't been mentioned yet. For numbers of fish, use the 4 inch ones. Watermelon colors are generally a good place to start.I like Texas rigging them.

As mentioned, flukes and plastic worms are always good to have in your box.If it's tannic stained waters from Cypress trees, red shad is a good color. 

Bank fishing can be pretty difficult, if not impossible in many of the wild natural lakes though. Find some good retention ponds and start there, or get a boat !

If you can get a hold of some wild shiners use them. 

[soflabasser]

On 5/27/2018 at 6:08 AM, Traumabrew said:

I am new to bass fishing. I live in Florida and have been told there are bass in these here waters. I want to try and catch some of them.

 

I am over whelmed at the choice of baits and styles of fishing them. I know different baits and fishing techniques vary based on multiple factors such as time of year and time of day, temperature of the water, water color and clarity, etc. but I am looking for some general tips and recommendations for some basic go to baits and fishing techniques that work well for Florida waters. I know that a lot of the water here is warm and cloudy and often times tannin colored.

 

I don't own a boat or kayak yet, so I will be bank fishing lakes and ponds in my area, which is the Bradenton/Sarasota area of Florida on the west coast.

 

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated and will help ease the feeling of being overwhelmed by choices.

Welcome to the forum @Traumabrew. SouthWest Florida has very good fishing for both freshwater and saltwater fish. I have done well fishing this area of the state with hollow belly frogs, poppers, buzzbaits, spinnerbaits, jerkbaits, zoom super flukes, trick worms, and other Texas rigged soft plastics. Look for parks and other areas that are considered public waters and get permission to fish private waters before fishing them.